Local Division III girls’ basketball players were well represented for the 2024 All-Ohio team, with one senior and five juniors selected after exceptional seasons on the court this winter.
Senior Ella Proper was a third team selection, finishing out what has been a top notch career for the Danville Blue Devils. She is the school’s leader for threes made in a season and a career, and her 1,244 points put her at third all time for Danville.
Last season she averaged 14 points per game, 4.4 boards, 2.7 assists and 2.9 steals. She made 54 threes and shot at a 38.85% clip, and was also a player who drew fouls and made her shots, going 88-for-109 (80.73%).
“Earning a spot on third team All-Ohio is an awesome accomplishment for Ella, which caps-off a great career at Danville,” said Danville Coach Matt Proper. “She joins only three other former Danville players to have earned All-Ohio recognition three times in their careers (Bri Staats, Cece Newbold & Meggee McCombs). Her thousands of hours of hard work, and determination to consistently improve her game led to her having a great career as a Danville basketball player.”
Cally Carpenter was All-Ohio Honorable Mention and had an excellent junior season, where she was the top Fredericktown scorer and second in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference. She was first team All-KMAC, and averaged 17.5 ppg. She shot 47% from the field including 32% from three, and also hit 74% of her free throws. Carpenter would fill the stat sheet, grabbing 5.1 rebounds and 2.7 steals. She also found open teammates for scores, dishing out 2.7 assists per game.
“I think it’s awesome Cally received this recognition,” Fredericktown Coach Jared Pryor said. “She definitely earned it with her hard work and great play this season. She had a great year and I’m excited to see what she can do for her senior year.”
Kayla Larimore is another junior, who not only won KMAC Player of the Year, but was also Special Mention All-Ohio.
“I'm really happy for her. Kayla had an amazing season: Player of the Year in the KMAC, 1st team All District 11 and 1st team All Central District,” Centerburg Coach Bill Abner said. “She's clearly deserving of the recognition and it's definitely special. However, Kayla would be the first one to tell you that she doesn't get these personal accolades without her teammates.”
This season she had 434 points and averaged 18.6 per game. She shot 52% and 32% from deep, while sinking 73% from the line. Larimore averaged 5.7 rebounds, two assists and 1.8 steals this past winter, as well.
“She puts in the work -- she's an extremely dedicated player,” Coach Abner said. “She improved her outside shooting in the off season and it clearly paid off. I think a lot of kids can learn from her. Kayla was 1st team All KMAC last year and could have been content with that, but she wanted to get better. I'm really proud of her.
Fellow junior Faith White was All-Ohio Honorable Mention after a solid year with the Mount Gilead girls’ basketball team. She averaged 9.8 points to lead the team, and also hauled in 5.1 rebounds. She was a force on defense with 2.6 steals per game, and also had 2.6 assists. She was the top Indian three point shooter with 21 made at just under 30%.
Mount Gilead Coach Danielle Bault pointed out that there was plenty of adversity for the Indians to overcome this season, between the tragic start with the father of a player passing (Joe Long), a variety of injuries and being displaced much of the year due to a gym renovation. White was an integral part of keeping the team focused, she said. Bault said White's leadership is just as important as her stats, and she is excited to see what she can do next season.
"Faith is a competitor she wants to be successful and that attitude is infectious to those around her," Bault said. "She understands you have to work to get better and you have to be willing to make yourself uncomfortable at times. She has already been reaching out to girls to get them in the gym and to set goals for the off season."
Abby Dickson was selected as an All-Ohio Honorable Mention in her junior season with the Utica Redskins. Coach Terry Logue was pleased with Dickson’s play, and she was the team leader with 13.8 ppg, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals. She shot well from beyond the arc at 34% and also hit 83.5% of her free throws.
